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AttractionsFamily FavoriteRainy-Day Pick

Shedd Aquarium

1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr · Chicago, IL

Why you should go…

Come face-to-face with beluga whales, playful sea otters, and rockhopper penguins at one of the most-visited aquariums in the country. The Wild Reef shark exhibit and the Caribbean Reef's daily dives keep kids glued to the glass. Its Museum Campus perch also delivers a postcard skyline view.

  • #aquarium
  • #belugas
  • #museum campus
  • #kids

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Shedd Aquarium, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Field Museum

    $25–$50

    Meet SUE the T. rex and roam ancient Egypt in one of the world's great natural history museums.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Iconic

    Adler Planetarium

    $25–$50

    America's first planetarium, perched on Northerly Island with dome sky shows and the best skyline view in Chicago.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Buckingham Fountain

    Free

    Grant Park's grand 1927 fountain fires its center jet skyward every hour, with music-and-lights shows after dusk.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Color Factory Chicago

    $25–$50

    Interactive, colorful art experience inside Willis Tower with 14 playful installations, including a giant ball pit.

    1.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Skydeck Chicago

    $25–$50

    Observation deck atop Willis Tower with glass Ledge boxes and panoramic views over four states.

    1.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower

    $25–$50

    Step onto The Ledge, a glass box 1,353 feet up, for knee-wobbling views over four states.

    1.4 mi awayMore like this